Billawar moving towards a new direction of development… In the CM’sReview meeting,MLA SatishSharma strongly raised the issue of makingBillawar a Distt

The voice of people news -The Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Mr. Omar Abdullah, recently chaired an important review meeting at the Kathua district headquarters. The meeting was attended by Deputy Chief Minister Mr. Surinder Kumar Choudhary, Higher Education Minister Ms. Sakina Itoo, Agriculture Minister Mr. Javed Ahmed Dar, and Sports Minister & MLA Billawar Mr. Satish Sharma, along with all MLAs of Kathua district, the Deputy Commissioner Kathua, Commissioners/Secretaries of various departments, Directors, and senior officials.
During the review meeting, MLA Billawar Satish Sharma strongly placed before the Chief Minister the long-pending demand of creating a separate hill district by combining Billawar–Bani–Basholi. He stated that this region has a distinct geographical, administrative, and cultural identity, and granting it district status would give a new momentum to development.
The issue of alleged irregularities in the IWMP department was also raised in the meeting. Along with this, serious problems related to the Power Department were highlighted. The MLA informed that even today, many hamlets in Thingan, Kanaudi, and Devta panchayats do not have electricity facilities, while several areas still lack road connectivity.
The demand to make Dhar Road a four-lane road was discussed in detail. Additionally, pointing out the dilapidated condition of the Billawar Tehsildar Office, the Chief Minister was urged to develop it as a Mini Secretariat and to construct a new multi-storey building.
MLA Satish Sharma also prominently raised the issue of the Billawar–Katli–Bani road. This approximately 70-kilometre-long road could prove to be a major milestone for the hilly region. He also discussed with the Higher Education Minister the shortage of teachers in educational institutions and the lack of doctors in newly established hospitals.
Demands were also placed to develop the tourism potential of the Billawar region, establish a Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) under the Agriculture Department, and provide new sports grounds to connect youth with sports.
One of the most pressing issues raised was the extensive damage to crops caused by monkeys. The MLA requested the Chief Minister to make arrangements for sterilization of monkeys to provide relief to farmers.
In addition, the issue of construction of a proposed approximately 700-metre road in the KV Ramkot area was raised, on which the Chief Minister issued immediate directions for action.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah listened seriously to all the issues and issued necessary directions to the concerned officials. This review meeting is being considered an important step towards giving Billawar a new direction of development and taking forward the region’s decades-old demands.